Cuellar shines as Sunderland make a point (From Durham Times)

Arsenal 0 Sunderland 0

5:00pm Saturday 18th August 2012 in Match Reports By Paul Fraser, Chief Football Writer

SUNDERLAND spent the second half camped in their own half but successfully avoided defeat on the opening day of the Premier League season at Arsenal.

After a first half in which the Black Cats went close with a couple of decent efforts themselves, the Gunners took command of the ball after the restart.

But in the absence of Robin van Persie, who completed his multi-million pound move to Manchester United on Friday, they failed to find the vital breakthrough.

Not even Olivier Giroud, a second half debutant after his switch from Montpellier, could convert a glorious chance when fellow new-boy Santi Cazorla played him in.

While Sunderland, who started with Stephane Sessegnon as a lone striker before he was replaced by Louis Saha, failed to create much themselves they did turn in a strong defensive display.

Carlos Cuellar, making his first competitive start since his switch from Aston Villa, was at his best to thwart a number of Arsenal attacks.

That helped to ensure Sunderland, who are still hoping to secure the likes of Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson among others, started the new campaign with a point.

ARSENAL (4-3-3): Szczesny; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Arteta, Diaby (Ramsey 69), Cazorla; Walcott (Arshavin 76), Podolski (Giroud 64), Gervinho. Subs: Santos, Djourou, Coquelin, Mannon (gk).

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1): Mignolet; Gardner, O'Shea, Cuellar, Richardson; Cattermole; Campbell (Elmohamady 69), Larsson (Meyler 78), Colback, McClean; Sessegnon (Saha 63). Subs: Wickham, Kilgallon, Bramble, Westwood (gk).